Saturday, April 9, 2011

MIDDLE EAST BIAS

The Middle-East BiasThe divisions within the international community over how to deal with events inthe Arab world, particularly Libya, underscore the sensitivity that has accruedaround the issue of intervention in a sovereign nation. The problem now is whatto do in the event of a stalemate in Libya, with fighting continuing, andcomparatively under-equipped opposition forces unable to take advantage of theair strikes and push back Gaddafi's forces.The idea of a de facto divided country is being bandied around as a possibility.That, per se, would be undesirable. It would recall the Iraq experience -difficulties associated with continually enforcing a no-fly zone and sanctions - aswell as invite charges of western countries working to keep oil flowing fromopposition areas. True, with Gaddafi having issued ominous threats, and hisforces attacking opposition-held cities, the immediate need was to stop abloodbath.But the West has remained quiet on, and maybe passively colluded with, SaudiArabia's intervention in Bahrain. If the underlying principle of the widespreadprotests in the region has been the removal of autocratic regimes, that appliesjust as well to Bahrain as to Libya. The Saudis may have sent in their forcesunder the legality of a regional pact, but that does not take away from the factthat Bahrain is also witnessing protests for democracy.There is an open but never-admitted partisan approach, based on big-powerstrategic considerations, at work in the region. That ambiguity has also reflecteditself in India's stand on enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya. After abstainingfrom the vote at the UN, New Delhi has voiced opposition to the air strikes beingcarried out against forces loyal to Gaddafi but has remained largely silent on theclampdown against peaceful protestors in Bahrain.The cause of freedom and democracy must be upheld unreservedly. True, tribalcomplexity, like in Yemen and Libya, might complicate the picture. But aninternational consensus on first exerting pressure, and using force only to preventcivilian deaths, while seeking a negotiated, peaceful transition, must emerge.